Battle for the Fastest Commute! Cyclist Out-Commutes Straphanger and Taxi Rider Friday, May 19th 8:30 AM From Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn To the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, Manhattan , Transportation Alternatives’ hosted the annual Bike Month NYC commuter race.
Friday, May 19th 8:30 AM From Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn To the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, Manhattan
On Friday morning, National Bike to Work Day, Transportation Alternatives’ hosted the annual Bike Month NYC commuter race. Three co-workers from the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, who all live in neighborhoods around Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza, raced to work to see what’s fastest: biking, taking the subway or riding in a cab.
And the winner is…Amy DeSalvo, who biked from Brooklyn to Manhattan in 25 minutes. Steve Long came in second riding the subway, at 32 minutes, and taxi rider Anissa Graham came in third at 40 minutes.
“Clearly, the bicycle is the fastest way to get around New York City,” DeSalvo said. “ Plus, I burned some calories and saved some money in the process.” The bicycle commute was free, while a subway ride costs two dollars and the taxi trip from Brooklyn to Manhattan cost over thirteen dollars.
According to 2000 Census figures, New Yorkers have the longest average commute in the country, about 45 minutes. However, the average bicycle commute in New York City only takes 30 minutes.
Cycling is booming in New York, while automobile usage is on the decline. Recent data released by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles show that automobile ownership has declined more than 10% citywide since 2001. At the same time, bicycle use is at record levels with 120,000 daily cyclists in New York City, up from 75,000 just ten years ago.
Now in its 15th year, Bike Month NYC honors the bicycle as a convenient, quick, quiet, clean and community-friendly form of transportation. The celebration features over 150 events citywide from April 22 to June 17.
The calendar of events is available at bike shops and online at www.bikemonthnyc.org. You can request a calendar by visiting the Bike Month NYC Web site or calling 212-629-8080. Bike Month NYC is sponsored by Transportation Alternatives, the NYC Department of Transportation and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Transportation Alternatives is a 5,500 member non-profit organization working for bicycling, walking and sensible transportation.
